If you know me, you know that I am afraid of and repulsed by almost all members of the animal kingdom, large and tiny. The tiniest challenge my wish to be a non-violent being and yes, I am ashamed of this so I pray for them to be liberated or born into a happier existence next time. None of this stops me from reflecting on the many things there are to learn from the world of insects. Here are some life-lessons insects teach me, that I have learned imperfectly.
(And for my mistakes and anything that gives offence, I apologise in advance to anyone who feels hurt.)
Illinois, where I studied, is home to Caterpillar, which like BHEL in India, makes 'earthmoving' machinery. The insect, caterpillar, while regarded an agricultural pest, also fertilises the soil with its droppings. The lesson is: do your part, whatever it ends up being. Your contribution will surprise you!
The grossest form of insect life that intersects with our days are arguably lice. Schoolchildren and their parents are intimate with the menace of lice infestations. I have heard that there is even a saying that lice climb seven beds, meaning they will infest seven people before they are done. In other words, 'climb every mountain' or leave no stone unturned. Do everything you can to achieve your purpose.
Ants work very hard and they seem to work non-stop. They also work together with other ants. My instinct is to do things by myself and I am impatient with others but ants underscore an important truth--working together, steadily and in a disciplined way, we achieve more than we can alone. Teamwork is a good thing!
"We will destroy this wall!" No one ever read a termite declaration to this effect but over a period of time, they eat into the core of the most solid structures. For all of us interested in social change, they should be an inspiration. Day by day, without measuring and obsessing over results, they smash structures and barricades decisively.
Patience is what spiders are famous for, as the nursery rhyme hero, Insy-Winsy reminds us. Everytime its web is washed away by rain, it starts over. The spider weaves. It rains. It weaves to build again. It does not matter if what you build is washed away; it matters that you patiently pick yourself up and start over.
Much reviled, cockroaches exemplify resilience. As a child I heard that cockroaches lived very long and were the only creatures that could survive an atomic bomb attack. I don't know if that is true but it is an impressive introduction! Life is going to throw multiple challenges at us. How do we get past each one and keep going? That is what living is about.
We first learn the word ‘metamorphosis’ when we learn about the life-cycle of the caterpillar and the butterfly. The butterfly reminds us that metamorphosis is the journey--for us and for the world around us. Everything changes. Everything must change. Everything will change. And it will be the change towards which we work.
Very simply, insects teach us that the scale of our effort is immaterial because everything counts if we persist together everyday, purposefully, meticulously, patiently, resiliently, untiringly and together.
